Kings, Blazers close out home-and-home set

Other than a change of venue, one big difference for Wednesday night's rematch between Sacramento and Portland is that Kings center DeMarcus Cousins will actually be in the building.

It is unknown if Cousins will be in the lineup, however, as the Kings visit
the Trail Blazers to conclude a home-and-home set and the season series
between the clubs.

Cousins, Sacramento's leading scorer and rebounder, was suspended indefinitely
by the club for unprofessional behavior and conduct detrimental to the team
after he and head coach Keith Smart exchanged words in the locker room during
halftime of a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

Cousins was benched for the rest of that game and told to stay in the locker
room. He was then handed his ban and was not with the club for Sunday's
meeting with Portland.

The 22-year-old, who is averaging 16.6 points and 9.5 rebounds a game, had his
suspension lifted on Monday after one game and practiced, but Smart did not
say that Cousins would start on Wednesday night.

"He's been reinstated, but that doesn't mean he's playing right away," Smart
told Sacramento's website. "But he's back around the team and came back today
and apologized to the team and to me, as well. We'll just move forward."

Minus Cousins, who has twice been suspended by the league this season, the
Kings dished out a season-high 31 assists in Sunday's 108-96 win over the
Trail Blazers.

Marcus Thornton led six Sacramento players in double figures with 22 points,
while John Salmons had 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

"Everybody was into the game, cheering for one another," said Thornton.
"That's what we need. Guys played very unselfish tonight."

Travis Outlaw and Isaiah Thomas contributed 15 and 11 points, respectively, in
the win, Sacramento's second in three games following a five-game slide.

Tyreke Evans also missed Sunday's game with a knee injury that has held him
out of nine games total this season. He is day-to-day, but not expected to
play tonight.

"(The Kings) shot the ball very well in the second half and we couldn't keep
up with them," said Portland coach Terry Stotts.

It was the Trail Blazers' second straight loss to the Kings after winning the
first meeting between the clubs on Nov. 13. Portland is now in danger of
losing a season series to Sacramento for the first time since dropping three
of four in 2007-08.